Campus News

Egbewole calls for end to ‘silo mentality’ in varsity operations

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has urged all Faculties, Departments, Directorates, Centres, and Units within the Institution to foster greater collaboration and desist from operating in isolation.

Prof. Egbewole made this appeal last Tuesday (April 8, 2025) during a meeting with Deans, Directors, Deputy Registrars, and Deputy Bursars on Process Mapping at the University Auditorium.   

The Vice Chancellor explained that the call for a more unified approach stemmed from concerns raised by the University Governing Council at its meeting held in December 2024. He said that the Council observed that many units and organs of the University appeared to be working independently of one another, even though their functions are often interdependent.

Prof. Egbewole cited examples of how different arms of the University interact regularly, such as the common link between Faculties and the Bursary or Registry, or the collaborative engagements between the Centre for Open and Distance Learning, the Institute of Education, and the Ilorin Business School.

The Vice Chancellor explained that process mapping, which is a strategic initiative being introduced is designed to help the University identify and streamline its work flows, clarify roles, and enhance efficiency. He said, “We cannot continue to operate in silos; it is hindering our ability to map our processes effectively”.

He encouraged every Faculty and Department to clearly define their roles, responsibilities, and lines of interaction, saying that such clarity will ensure the success of the process mapping effort and, ultimately, drive institutional progress.

Also speaking at the meeting, the Director of Academic Planning (DAP), Prof. AbdulRasheed A. Adeoye, explained the significance of understanding interdependence across the various units and organs of the University. He said that process mapping is not merely a bureaucratic exercise but a necessary step toward improving service delivery and institutional efficiency.

Prof. Adeoye explained that “process mapping simply means understanding what I do, how I do it, and how it affects others within the system. When a particular unit fails to perform its responsibilities, it renders connected departments or units unable to function effectively. That is the essence of interdependence and it is what we aim to capture through this process.”

Using the example of result processing, the DAP illustrated how failure at one level could stall the entire academic chain. He said, “When a Department fails to process students’ results, the Faculty Board cannot meet to deliberate on them, and subsequently, the Business Committee of Senate (BCOS) cannot approve them. This creates a domino effect that affects students and the entire academic activities.”

Prof. Adeoye said that the University is striving to formally establish the interconnectivity of its operational processes to ensure that services are delivered seamlessly and efficiently across all Faculties, Departments, and administrative units.

He also pointed out the importance of using official communication channels. “For the sake of accountability and professionalism, staff members are encouraged to use official emails in all correspondences. Personal emails are not acceptable for institutional communications,” he said.

The Director of Academic Planning urged participants to carefully examine the nature of relationships that exist among the various units and identify both the strengths and the weak points. He added that by highlighting the challenges and limitations in the current system, they are not just pointing out problems, they are helping management to develop practical solutions to those challenges.”

Contributing to the discussion, the Director of the Computer Services and Information Technology (COMSIT), Prof. Rasheed Jimoh, commended the University Management for initiating what he described as a timely and transformative exercise aimed at streamlining the institution’s operations.

Prof. Jimoh described the Process Mapping initiative as a strategic step towards achieving effective service delivery through better coordination and synergy among interrelated units across the University.

The COMSIT Director revealed that the University’s core processes have already been identified, and that these would be shared with relevant Directors and Heads of Units to ensure widespread understanding and ownership of the system.

According to him, the end goal is to automate all university processes in a way that promotes transparency, efficiency, and ease of operation. “The process mapping will give us the structure we need to build an integrated enterprise system that reflects the true workflow of the institution,” he added.